Title

Author

Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

David Mohr

Abstract

Sexual harassment has significant adverse psychological and physical effects on employees and can negatively impact the workplace, and overall business operations. A gap in current research was identified concerning whether the employee's sex affects employee's perceived workplace sexual harassment climate, sexual harassment experience, and perceived safety from sexual harassment. This study examined the effects of employee workplace sexual harassment experience and perception of workplace sexual harassment psychological climate on employee's perceived safety from sexual harassment moderated by sex. Results showed that perceived workplace sexual harassment climate and employee workplace sexual harassment experience were both significant predictors of perceived safety from sexual harassment. Additionally, the findings revealed that for both men and women, high intolerance for sexual harassment and low employee sexual harassment experience were significantly associated with increased perceived safety from sexual harassment. When perceived workplace sexual harassment climate and employee sexual harassment experience were observed together, only perceived workplace sexual harassment climate was associated with increased perceived safety from sexual harassment. Further research into diverse populations and anti-harassment programming's impact on perceived safety may provide further insights. The findings from this study could assist decision-makers in organizations to promote better physical, psychological, and emotional security in the workplace. Therefore, reducing sexual harassment in the workplace would promote positive social change by reducing the number of adverse events affecting individuals, businesses, and society.